Ontario Provincial Police have charged a couple from Ottawa with fraud in a confidence scam police say bilked victims in the Sharbot Lake area of as much as $100,000 from August 2013 to March 2016.

Police allege the pair claimed to have political connections to influence, engage and establish trust with victims or coerce their victims to hand over money.

Gipse Julio Ricardo Villas, 67, known as Guilio Villas, and his wife, Jessica Louise Villas, 41, face two charges each of fraud over $5,000.

OPP confirmed that Jessica Villas worked as a special assistant for former Newfoundland and Labrador MP Judy Foote. Foote stepped away from politics in September to spend time with family. When she did, Villas was not given another position. Police said she no longer has an occupation affiliated with politics.

OPP said Gipse Villas is not politically affiliated but portrayed himself as a person with a position of high authority with political connections.

Police did not release further details, saying it was possible more victims would be discovered in the ongoing investigation.

Police said the accused are known to have frequented Montreal and Kingston and are asking anyone with information to call 613-372-1932 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

They were released on a promise to appear in Sharbot Lake court on Dec. 18.